Here at Naked Kitchens we've been thinking about an elegant storage solution that's not only a practical haven but oozes class and sophistication: The Boot Room. 

When looking at purchasing a kitchen, sometimes the amount of choice on offer can be a little overwhelming. If you've never looked into kitchens before, it can be very difficult to distinguish between the different styles. At Naked Kitchens we offer three main styles of kitchen designs that can then be categorised even further through certain features that make each kitchen completely unique. This post is designed to help you understand the differences between the kitchen styles that we offer, to try and give you a strong base for the beginning of your kitchen journey. Shaker: The signature shaker style is simplicity at its best. There is a long history behind this kitchen style, and traditional features definitely rule the design. Simple door styles with minimal features, and a lack of ornamentation make this design so popular today, creating a kitchen that is fuss-free and perfect for every-day life. One distinction of a Shaker kitchen is that they are also in-frame designs. This design is where the door or drawer front sits within the frame of the cabinet as opposed to covering the front of the carcass. At the heart of this design is fine craftsmanship and functionality, an ethos that has always been at the core of Naked Kitchens. A shaker kitchen is one that fits perfectly into any type of home, as it can look beautifully classic in a large country house, but due to its versatile simplicity, can also look wonderfully modern in a newly built property. Wherever it's placed, a shaker kitchen will continue to forever look timeless.

Autumn is a time of year that involves many changes; the weather, the mood, the lighting all completely differ as soon as it hits the later months of the year and this involves a completely different perspective on the home and how you want it to look and feel. As the days are now shorter and the evenings are getting colder, it often means savouring as much of your time outside as possible. It may be risky to travel long distances as the weather is unpredictable and your day outside may be rained off, but the stubborn summer lover within us will still relish in any warm weather and sunshine for as long as possible. But when it just gets too chilly and dark in the evenings to be outside and you have to throw in the towel, that's when you realise how important a cosy, comfortable environment is; that you can just come home and relax in. There are many things that you can do to make your home as relaxing as possible, and as your kitchen is the hub of your home, it is vital that this room is as inviting as it can possibly be.

Here at Naked Kitchens, we're finally getting used to the fact that summer has ended, and Autumn has well and truly settled in. Gone are the sunny days (what few there were in Britain anyway) and the rain has truly started to pour, bringing with it some very chilly mornings and evenings, and we're just about ready to start that winter hibernation. So in true Autumnal style we've cracked out the jumpers, begrudgingly flicked the heating on a couple of times and thought about our favourite kitchen designs that perfectly transition your home into the new season. With consumers turning to colour more and more and no longer sticking to a comfortable neutral as their kitchen colour of choice, one trend that we have seen stand out in kitchen design is the use of earthy colours and materials. Consumers are embracing colour so much more now, and are looking to inject colour into their homes, but choosing a more natural way to do it, with greens, reds, oranges etc, all colours from the warmer palette that are perfect to create a warm, inviting atmosphere in the cooler Autumn months.

If there is one thing we have realised over the many years that we have been creating bespoke kitchens, it's that nearly everyone wants a 'modern shaker' kitchen. A contradiction in itself, as the shaker is a very traditional kitchen design that has been in history since the 18th century, and is not actually a new, modern kitchen style. However, we understand what customers mean when they say this, as they generally want a timeless kitchen design that isn't old fashioned or super modern but will continue to look elegant in years to come. And that is a design that we love to create, time and time again.

As you may already know, colour has made quite a dramatic comeback to the kitchen. Gone are the days of an all white kitchen, and whilst neutral greys are still popular in the classic country kitchen styles, there is one colour that has definitely caught our eye recently and a lot of our clients too- the beautiful blue. Gone are the days when people can spend an obscene amount on a kitchen, and with houses generally decreasing in size alongside budgets, people are generally investing in smaller kitchens. Those who are looking to invest in a new kitchen are often turning to the calming colour blue, and are choosing Naked Kitchens to create the kitchen for them, as they can get a high end quality kitchen without the high end price tag. Contemporary Compact Kitchens Pale pastel blues can look incredible in a smaller space, bouncing light from windows to create the illusion of much more space and keeping the room light and fresh. By choosing such a bright and unusual kitchen colour, the eyes are instantly drawn to the area, and with minimal accessories throughout, there is no distraction from this incredible space. Design: 2LG Photography: Megan Taylor

Here at Naked Kitchens, one thing that is really important to us, is to try and balance functionality with style. Whilst a beautiful minimalist kitchen with uncluttered worktops is a dream for many people, the reality is that you actually need lots of extra storage for every day items and you need to be able to access them quickly. As we are 100% bespoke, we can create any storage solution for your kitchen. Whether it be larders with extra drawers, pull out shelves in cupboards, wine racks, bespoke oak storage units or islands with sleek extra storage on each side. These all help to keep kitchen items hidden, meaning style isn't compromised, but ensures your kitchen remains as practical as possible. Traditional kitchens that have contemporary, clever storage solutions create a mix of modern and classic in the most practical way.

Working with compact spaces is something we're experts at here at Naked Kitchens. Whilst a spacious, open plan large kitchen is an amazing space to work with and we can create absolutely stunning kitchens, sometimes the real magic lies in creating a kitchen to work in the smallest of spaces. With concealed drawers and hidden storage in every nook and cranny, we can create a design that has function at its heart, but is also a truly beautiful kitchen. One of the main ways in which you can make the most of a small space is with storage: think pull out shelving, a wine rack in that few centimetre gap that would otherwise be wasted, islands with cabinet space on both sides, integrated appliances and many more options. Choose drawers with bespoke cutlery holders or custom peg boards to easily store your crockery and cooking utensils to save space in cupboards and keep surface areas clutter free.

One of the easiest ways to finish off your kitchen is with accessories; certain items that are exclusive to your kitchen. Here at Naked Kitchens, we've got a few tricks up our sleeve to help you create a kitchen that is extra-special. One way of making your kitchen extra-special is to add an interesting splash back. Whilst many choose traditional tiles or wooden panelling that looks beautiful in a traditional country kitchen, we decided to add something exceptional that really makes your kitchen standout- the aged brass splash back. As seen in our contemporary Ladbroke Kitchen, the splash back has become a very popular item with our customers. With each piece being aged by hand, it means they are entirely unique every time.

Here at Naked Kitchens, the inspiration for our kitchen designs is not always from beautiful imagery we see online or in glossy magazine articles, but is often found in the most natural of places. The inspiration for our elegant Cley Kitchen was found right at the heart of one of natures finest creations; Cley Next The Sea beach on the beautiful North Norfolk coast.